Burpees. Who thought of that name anyway?

Today Chris made me do burpees. If you don't remember what they are from elementary school gym class, just go on youtube and search for it. Some people have actually had themselves taped while doing this exercise for informational purposes. To each his own, I guess. If there is ever any photographic or video evidence of me doing this exercise, someone is going to die. I'm not kidding about this. (See how crabby they make me?)

You could just wait for my friend Lon, who has been eagerly awaiting word of my having to do them, to post a link. He's very technically savvy. I'm sure the link is forthcoming.

I don't like doing them because they make me feel awkward and goofy. I won't even let Chris watch me do them although I know he peeks. He can't help but check to make sure I'm not going to do anything to injure myself.

Today I did 80 minutes of exercise in total and I am sore. I ate pretty well too, although Chris ragged on me because I didn't eat my lunch at noon. (There is no satisfying that man, I swear.)

I don't have much to report so my part of this entry is going to be short and sweet. I got assignments for the long weekend so I'll update over the weekend.

I'm turning tonight's blog entry over to my daughter, Shae. Have a great weekend!

Shae writes...

Hey everyone, I wanted to start off saying thank you for supporting my mom in her journey. I also would like to introduce myself. My name is Shae and I am a 15 year (almost 16) old. I am in high school and I really enjoy school and music.

My mom started this project four years ago. In some ways it seems a lot longer because I can barely remember her at her heaviest. Sometimes I look at the few old pictures of her that exist and I can't even believe it's her but there are some things that I will never forget.

I remember every morning I had to put on her socks for her because she couldn't reach her feet. I don't remember ever going down a slide with her, on an amusement park ride, swimming at a pool with her, or other important memories that typical kids have. I couldn't get my arms all the way around her to hug her until I was 13 years old. My mom was disabled from her weight and I got used to doing a lot of things for her and I didn't really think about it being weird or differnt because that's how it always was for me. It started being weird for me when she could do things for herself again and then it really hit me what the weight had done to her and all of our lives.

I also remember that she always took the pictures. She never liked being in them. Looking back it makes me sad not having many pictures of us together when I was little.

Ever since she started to change her life for me, for Brady, for her family, for her friends, and most importantly for herself, she has made up for a lot of lost time.

A couple of years ago she went swimming in a pool with me at our local gym. It really freaked her out but she did it anyway. We went on a plane together to New York when she was on the Rachael Ray Show. She can go out to eat and and not worry about fitting in the booth. I've been camping, bowling and downhill skiing with her in the past year. She can put on her own socks again! (Sometimes when Chris works her out really hard I have to help her with her socks but only because she's really sore)

She has regained so many other abilities it is hard to remember all of them. Things that most people don't think twice about.

As mother and daughter I really think that we have become closer. We workout most days together and ask each other what we have eaten that day. I have become healthier and now know more about excercise.

A lot of kids in my school eat junk for brekfast, lunch, and dinner. They eat cheetos, pop, candy, pop-tarts, pizza, and other salty, greasy snacks. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE all of those things, but I have learned that if I want to eat like that I will have to pay for later on the elliptical. Most of the time I just tell my self, "It's not worth it. 3 bites later, 300 calories later. I will feel hungry and feel bad for eating the junk."

Obesity, heart disease, high-blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer all run in my family. I have enough things running against me, so I need to keep my body healthy.

My mom inspires me. Not many people can do what she has done. I know she will get to her goal. I've always known that she would. I'm really proud of her for being brave enough to tell her story. It's not the easiest thing to admit to or talk about.

Well, that's all I have for now. I have really enjoyed writing and sharing some of my story. I hope my mom let's me do it again.

Thanks for following and commenting on her blog!

Shae